Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing service treatment records and other medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support a link to military service. The right knee disability, prior to December 2, 2008, did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 5, 2005, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for hepatitis B and tinnitus, and granted service connection for chronic tinnitus. The issues of service connection for other conditions are being remanded to the RO.

The Veteran's service connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, thus the Board dismisses these claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining an examination and updating the claims file with recent VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss) do not render him unemployable due to their combined effect on his ability to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus was denied as the disability is already at its maximum schedular evaluation. The claim for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities was also denied due to the combined disability rating not meeting the required percentage criteria.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted as it is attributable to service.,Service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD is granted as it is etiologically related to the service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred or aggravated in active service and denied his claim for service connection. The hearing loss claim is remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including providing a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's recurrent tinnitus is related to his service and any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for severe left ankle sprain with degenerative joint disease, hearing loss and tinnitus is granted. The effective date is set at May 21, 1996.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. Service connection was denied for an eye disability claimed as floaters.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability of either ear as defined by VA regulations, and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are causally related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and agenesis of the left testicle claims are being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine their etiology. The service connection theory is based on direct evidence rather than a presumption.